diff --git a/src/compiler/nir/nir_lower_indirect_derefs.c b/src/compiler/nir/nir_lower_indirect_derefs.c
index 897a0620872..adcfaec219f 100644
--- a/src/compiler/nir/nir_lower_indirect_derefs.c
+++ b/src/compiler/nir/nir_lower_indirect_derefs.c
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ lower_indirect_derefs_block(nir_block *block, nir_builder *b,
       /* Walk the deref chain back to the base and look for indirects */
       bool has_indirect = false;
       nir_deref_instr *base = deref;
-      while (base->deref_type != nir_deref_type_var) {
+      while (base && base->deref_type != nir_deref_type_var) {
          if (base->deref_type == nir_deref_type_array &&
              !nir_src_is_const(base->arr.index))
             has_indirect = true;
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ lower_indirect_derefs_block(nir_block *block, nir_builder *b,
          base = nir_deref_instr_parent(base);
       }
 
-      if (!has_indirect)
+      if (!has_indirect || !base)
          continue;
 
       /* Only lower variables whose mode is in the mask, or compact